MotoGP Qatar: Reigning champ Lorenzo ’stronger than last year’
Ominously, reigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo believes he goes into this weekend’s Qatar season opener in a better position than he was in 2015 when, at times, he looked like he could win at will instead of merely having the will to win.
Lorenzo, who ensured he has encountered none of the physical difficulties that hindered the beginning of his 2014 season by requesting his trainer be by his side throughout testing, said he feels 'stronger than last year' which will no doubt fill the rest of his opponents full of dread.
“For one lap we are competitive,” said the Spaniard on the final night at Qatar, having ended the test a full half second clear of second position. “Also for two or three laps we are competitive. I made the first simulation with the Michelin tyres and it went very well.
“The electronics were not bad. You have to be very smooth and this will give me some advantage because I’ve always been a very smooth rider. We have to be careful with the throttle, the lean angle… it’s not easy to keep on the bike.”
Asked to assess the strongest points of the current M1, he quipped, “the lap time! To get this lap time you need to be good almost everywhere. We are still missing some top speed but we have quite good braking and we keep the corner speed and acceleration as good points.”
See more on this story in the new issue of the BSN app, out today, in our free, 27-page MotoGP season preview. Away to your app store now, Dougal.
